Step 1: Option 1, Monkey Fist guide

Step-1 Many objects could be used inside the knot preferably round or square, I chose to use a marble. The marble is light weight and you can get it in different sizes. It is possible to use metal balls but they are heavy and will "upset" metal detectors.
For this project you will need 4-5feet paracord , scissors, lighter, pointy object and a bit of
patience.
In this guide I used a small marble so 3 times around every side is enough to cover the marble.

Step 2:

Step 3:

At this stage insert the marble into the center.

Step 4:

Before you start the thightening process just count that you have even cord on every side.
In my example I should have 3 times marble cover on each side.

Step 5:

This is the last step, from this point you will have to start tightenings the cord. Just remember, do it slowly dont pull to hard on the first few tightenings. When the cord is getting hard to pull use the pointy object.

Sometimes its trail and error to find out how many time we have to wrap the paracord around an object to get the right cover.
It can also depend on the thickness of the paracord.

Step 6:

At this step you have few options to end the monkey fist, you can make a simple knot, snake knot, diamond knot or any other finishing method, you can find guide for Diamond knot and more at my blog: http://paracord-projects.blogspot.com/Congratulations on your first monkey fist.

Steps For Diamond Knot:
1. Create the diamond knot (see guide image).
2. Before tightening the knot slide in the 2 end cords. (see marked image).
3. Cut the 2 end cords close to the knot.
4. Lighter, water to dip your finger in (when fusing), pointy object to push warm cord into the knot.
Start by fusing together the 2 end cords, try doing it neat and carefully to get nice finishing. When both ends are fused warm them with the lighter and push them in the knot. Now you can attach a ring to it (or before) and pull the ring and the bottom 2 cords to get the final tightening.

Step 7: Option 2, Monkey Fist guide

In this guide I am just showing another way how to hold the cord between the fingers.
Try both ways and you will find out which way is more comfortable for you. I find this method easier for bigger marbles.

I also recommend using some sort of pointy object I chose my nail punch.
Once the knot is finished the pointy object will aid you when pulling the cord to tighten the knot around the marble.

Step 8: "Easy Monkey Fist" guide

I was just thinking that not everyone finds it easy making the monkey fist knots between 2 fingers so I made this DIY aid I call it the "Easy Monkey Fist". All that is needed is to wrap the cord correctly in the monkey fist knot then take it off and tighten it.

It's made from scrap timber (L-shape screwed together) and 4" nails. I drilled nail sized diameter holes so the nails could be removed / pulled out easily.
The small gap on the base is for holding the start cord.
3 screws (optional) to fix it to a solid bas.
It is optional to drill a few more holes to fit different marble/small ball size.

I tried it myself a few times and it only took me a few minutes to make a perfect monkey's fist.

Just remember, do it slowly dont pull to hard on the first few tightenings.

In this guide I used a large marble so 6 times around was enough to cover it.
Also remember the bigger the core object is the more paracord you will need + extra cord for final finishing: snake knot, cobra knot etc'.

Step 9: Golf ball, tennis ball monkey fist

Got some 8mm cord today so I made a Giant monkey fist using a golf ball as the core. It's actually easier to make a monkey fist from thicker cord.
Getting bigger with tennis ball.

Step 10: Gift Exchange - Paracord

Here I made a few paracord knots for my Gift Exchange match nepheron.
From the left:
1. small monkey fist, marble as core combined with snake knot.
2. Snake knot with diamond knot.
3. Square knot with diamond knot.
4. Cobra and knig cobra knot with diamond knot.
5. Survival bracelet, cobra knot. I left the end cord loose so nepheron can adjust it to his wrist size.
6.Large monkey fist (big marble) and Giant monkey fist from 10mm paracord, golf ball as core. The baby in the image was not included.... ;-)

I keep messing up the whole knot because I cannot figure where the loose end here goes, the one which is now topmost on vertical axis. The next picture is a bit obscure since we cannot see how it turns "inside" the knot - which way it comes out?

Monkey Fist in action: Check out the movie Inception when the Eames character is skiing away from the badguys towards the end of the movie. There is about a one second shot where Eames throws a rope weighted at the end with a monkey fist and catches it between the branches of a tree thereby creating a taut line that the bad guys ski into. It could totally happen.

It is done in the exact same way as you see here except, you will tighten it up a bit more to compensate for the lack of a solid core. Using thicker cord will work better when not including a core simply because the thickness of the cord will somewhat compensate for the empty center space.

I completed my best monkey fist knot yesterday using quarter-inch poly-fill rope (the cheap crap with the blue paper core) with a sand filled tennis ball in the knot. It turned out to be a little over half a meter long. When testing it, I smashed it against a two liter bottle of water, unopened, and it compressed the bottle so quickly that the cap split in two.

I'M FROM WALES IN THE UK AND I HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN TO USE PARACORD, I AM LOVING THIS NEW PROJECT AND I HAVE MADE A FEW PARACORD OBJECTS KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND THANKS FOR THE TIPS. PAINTEDLADY25@BTINTERNET.COM

There is a video on you tube that tells you a very helpful piece of advice, heres the URL. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X95RKTxIHFY I think you will recognize what you are doing wrong when he mentions it.

The monkey fist is my favorite knot & the easiest I've ever done! I've NEVER been able to tie knots-my dad taught knot tying, my 3 boys are in Boy Scouts, I was a Cub Scout Leader. I've had people try to teach me over & over. I don't know if it's being left-handed or if my brain just isn't wired right, but if I could even make heads or tails out of what they were showing me, I coudn't remember long enough to do it a 2nd time. I always loved the look of the monkey fist & was thoroughly intimidated to even try it for years, since I can barely get past a square knot. Then I saw an instructable & thought I'd give it a try. Imagine my surprise & delight when within an hour. I had completed my 1st monkey fist just by looking at the photo & instructions over & over! My next one went even faster & by the time I made the 3rd one I didn't even need instructions to follow!WOW! My favorite is the stretch paracord(?) I got at the surplus store, because it's very forgiving & you can stretch it as tight as you need but go back & loosen it if you need to. Instead of a marbe in the center, I bought a bag of jingle bells at the craft store & I use a pair of pliers to crimp the metal hanger loop down to make it round. I made about 2 doz. jingle monkey fists for my boys to take to Trapper's Rendevous in Kansas to trade. I also used them as pulls on my ceiling fan (see photo) & made some for my nephew to play with - but I never knew how to end them neatly. I love this instructable, especially the cool way to end the knots & the contraption you built to make them! I can't wait to try some of these! Thanks!

I am very happy you liked my Ible. Well done with your monkey fist. When I learned how to make the monkey fist knot I looked at many web sites and didn’t really find a good guide. That is why I tried to make a very clear and easy to follow steps. Thanks again for your kind comment. You get Monkey Fist MASTER Patch from me.

I am now on my 12th lanyard.However, I was finding that melting the ends of the chord with a lighter was a little unsightly so I experimented with other things.UHU glue (Methylacetate) gives a neat finish. It is also good for finishing the braiding. I give a squeeze around the final row of braiding.I found UHU to be perfect because unlike superglue, it can be seperated if you need to use the chord in an emergency but it holds it well enough so the braiding doesn't come apart. It also finished the ends of the chord neatly. As it is also highly flammable, in a survival situation, you could use it as kindling to start a fire. Just cut a centimetre or so off the ends of the chord.

I have been trying for years to tie one of these knots from various book references all to no avail.Thanks to NutandBolt's 'able I have now made a perfect monkeyfist lanyard for my leatherman after only the 3rd attempt. My marble needed 5 turns and I started with 3 and then 4 otherwise it would have been first time!

Many thanks NutandBolt. I have a feeling my family and friends will be getting monkeyfist keyfobs from now on.